Fishing Lake James in Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  Lake James is a Pierce County water, in Washington. Everything around it is farm and woodlot. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Crocker lies 19 miles from the water. Buckley is 19 miles away, with Enumclaw at 20 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Lake Ethel a shade over 0.3 miles, Marjorie Lake lies 0.9 miles on, Oliver Lake a shade over 1.1 miles, Crescent Lake lies 1.8 miles on and Mystic Lake a shade over 3.8 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lake James

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Pierce County, recorded fish include pink salmon, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass and Chum salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Lake James repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 54°F and January near 26°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan around that when you fish Lake James. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A campsite is mapped about 170 yards away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Lake Ethel, 0.3 miles away. Check the position at Lake James before loading the car.